Correspondence tray



May 22, 1951 l. B. YOUNG, JR

CORRESPONDENCE TRAY Filed June 21. 1949 INVENTOR. IRA BRUCE YOUNG, JR.

A WENE Y Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE TRAY Ira Bruce Young, Jr., Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application June 21, 1949, Serial No. 100,504

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-181) This invention relates to an improved correspondence tray of the type used upon desks for holding letters and other papers which are to be mailed and it is one object of the invention to provide a tray which is formed of strong wire and of such construction that a number of trays may be stacked one upon another.

Another object of the invention is to provide the tray with side walls and supporting feet or props extending downwardly from the side Walls, the tray and the props being formed of resilient wire and portions of the wire strand from. which the props are formed serving as reinforcements for the side walls.

Another object of the invention is to so form the reinforcements that portions project upwardly from front and rear portions of the tray and are so shaped that they may cooperate with upwardly projecting portions of other reinforcements located midway the length of the tray and have firm gripping engagement with the props of another tray and firmly, but detachably, hold the upper tray in engagement with the lower tray and very effectively prevent the upper tray from slipping out of position at rest upon the lower tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tray of this character which is entirely formed from metal strands, and may be manufactured at low cost.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved tray.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tray.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing trays stacked one upon another.

Fig.4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing portions of the stacked trays inter-locked Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Fig. '7 is a view showing the upper tray til-ted to a raised position in which papers may be readily placed in or removed from the lower tray.

This improved tray has a bottom I formed entirely of metal strands, one of which has it ends soldered together, as shown at 2., and is bent to form the bottom with a stiff margin consisting .of a rear bar 3, side bars 4, and a front bar 5 which has its intermediate portion 6 bowed inwardly in a direction rearwardly of the tray toprovide the tray with a recess in order that letters and other papers placed in the tray may be readily grasped and lifted from the tray. Strands 8 extend longitudinally of the bottom in transverse spaced relation to each other and have their ends soldered to the rear bar 3 and the front bar 5 and in order to brace these rods there has been provided a cross rod or wire strand 9 which extends transversely of the tray midway the length thereof and is soldered to the side bars and to under portions of the rods 8. Another wire strand is bent to form a rear bar I0 and side bars I! which extend forwardly from the bar I!) and have forward ends bent inwardly and downwardly to form arms I2 and upon referring to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that this strand cooperates with the marginal strand of the bottom to form a rear wall and side walls for the tray and also form abutments or side portions of a front wall for the tray.

The rear wall of the tray is reinforced by a wire ring or brace [3 which is soldered against outer surfaces of the rear bars or rods 3 and Ill and projects upwardly from the upper bar ll! of this rear wall, and since the lower portion of the ring is soldered to the lower bar 3 in spaced relation to meeting ends of the wire strand from which the marginal portion of the bottom is formed the soldered connection for these ends will be reinforced and prevented from being broken apart.

Each of the side walls of the tray is reinforced midway its length by a ring or brace l4 which is soldered against outer surfaces of the upper and lower bars l l and 4 of the side wall and has its upper portion projecting upwardly from the upper bar of the side wall. The side walls are additionally reinforced by braces or struts I5 which are of inverted -shape, so that they taper upwardly, and have their upper portions projecting upwardly from the upper bars II of the sidewalls. Terminals of the bracesor struts I5 are bent outwardly a slight amount in order to form bills or hooks l6 and since the struts are soldered to inner surfaces of the side walls with their bills deflected outwardly over the upper bars H as shown in Figure 2, a locking action takes place when the feet or supports of a second tray are forced downwardly against the upper bars of the first tray, thus firmly, but detachably, holding a tray at rest upon another tray.

The feet or supports I! for the tray are each formed from a metal strand which extends 1ongitudinally of the tray under a side wall thereof. Portions of the wire strands from which the supports are formed are bent upwardly to form arimfi fi 6 Which are soldered to the side bars of the bottom of the tray, and from an inspection of Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that these portion of the strands extend upwardly from the bottom of the tray and are bent to form the braces or struts ['5 and their bills Hi. Therefore the supports or feet will be very firmly mounted and can not easily become detached from the tray.

When a tray of the improved construction is in use it i placed upon a desk or table where it is supported in an elevated position by its supports and another tray of duplicate construction shifted downwardly they may be easily moved into position to rest upon the upper bars of the side walls of the lower tray with clips formed by the upwardly projection positions of the rings [4 and the struts IS in frictional gripping en gagement with side portions of the supports and the bills of the struts in overlying engagement with their upper surfaces and it will be impossible for the upper tray to accidently slip out of its proper position at rest upon the lower tray. It

should also be noted that since the supports hold the trays in an elevated position the bottom of the upper tray will be spaced upwardly from the lower tray such a distance that letters and papers may be easily thrust into or removed from the bottom tray without interference by the upper tray. When the trays are to be separated it is merely necessary to grasp the lower tray and exert upward pull upon the upper tray and the support for the upper tray will be moved upwardly out of engagement with the rings l4 and the bills or hooks of the props of the lower tray.

In Fig. 7 there has been shown a pair of trays disposed one above the other, the upper tray having its support I! at one side resting upon the upper bar of the side wall at the corresponding side of the lower tray and the other side of the upper tray free from the lower tray. Ordinarily the supports of the upper tray are both at rest upon the upper bar H of the side walls of the lower tray and gripped by the jaws formed by the protruding upper clip portions of the braces l4 and I and when a large number of letters 01' files are deposited in the lower tray, and project upwardly above its side walls, it is difiicult to place other letters or files in the lower tray or remove them. The support at either side of the upper tray may then be released from the wall of the lower tray, and as the support at the other side of the upper tray remains in engagement with the lower tray it forms a hinged connection between the trays and the upper tray may be swung upwardly to a transversely tilted position. Letters or files may then be readily placed in or removed from the lower tray and the upper tray returned to its original position in which both of its supports I! are gripped and the upper tray secured along both sides and firmly held in engagement with the lower tray.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A tray comprising a bottom and upstand- -ing rear and side Walls, center braces for the side walls, said braces consisting of rings mounted against outer surfaces thereof and each being 10- cated midway the length of a side wall with its upper portion projecting upwardly from the said side wall, and supports for the tray each formed from a wire strand extending longitudinally of the tray under a side wall and having end portions bent upwardly to form arms secured against a side edge of the bottom of the tray to hold the tray in elevated relation to a surface upon which the supports rest, the upwardly bent arms -of the supports extending upwardly beyond the side walls and then being bent downwardly to form front and rear braces of inverted V-shape spaced from the center braces and mounted against inner surfaces of the side walls with those portions of the upper ends which extend beyond the side walls being bent outwardly to form hooks overhanging the sidewalls, the center braces and the front and rear braces comprising means adapted to grip the supports of a second tray of a duplicate construction to thereby hold the second tray at rest upon the walls of the first tray.

2. A tray comprising a bottom including a marginal portion formed from a wire strand united at its ends and bent to form side bars and front and rear bars, an upper wire strand bent to form a rear bar and side bars and having its end portions bent inwardly and downwardl and secured to the front bar of the bottom strand, said upper strand cooperating with the side bars and the end bars of the bottom strand to form side walls and front and rear walls for the tray, a brace disposed vertically and mounted against outer surfaces of the upper and lower bars of the rear wall, wire rings disposed vertically and mounted against outer surfaces of the upper and lower bars of the side walls and having upper portions projecting upwardly from the upper bars of the side walls, and supports for the tray each consisting of a wire strand extending 1ongitudinally of a side wall in downwardly spaced parallel relation thereto and having end portions bent upwardly and passing through the bottom inwardly of the side walls thereof to a point above the side walls and then downwardly to form struts spaced forwardly and rearwardly from the ring of the said side wall and secured against inner surfaces of the said side wall, those end portions of the struts which project upwardly from the side walls being bent outwardly to form bills overhanging the upper bar of the side walls, the rings and the struts comprising means adapted to grip the supports of a second tray of duplicate construction between them to thereby hold the second tray at rest upon the walls of the first tray.

3. A tray comprising a bottom bordered by a rear wall and side walls, each wall having upper and lower bars, braces mounted against outer surfaces of the upper and lower bars of the side walls midway the length thereof and having portions projecting upwardly from the upper bars, and supports for the tray each formed from a strand of wire, the strands having portions extending longitudinally of the tray in downwardly spaced relation to the side walls and bent to form front and rear arms extending upwardly to a point above the side walls and then downwardly to form struts of inverted V-shape spaced forwardly and rearly from the braces, said arms being mounted against inner surfaces of the upper and lower bars of the side walls, those upper portions of they struts which project upward- 1y from the upper bars of the side Walls being bent transversely in a direction outwardly of the side walls and forming bills overhanging the upper bars for clamping engagement with the supports of a second tray disposed over the first tray, the supports of the second tray resting upon the upper bars of the side walls of the first tray and gripped at inner and outer sides by the upwardly projecting portion of the braces and the struts.

4. A tray comprising a bottom bordered by side wall each having upper and lower bars, braces mounted against outer surfaces of the bars of the side walls and projecting upwardly from the side walls, struts mounted vertically against inner surfaces of the bars of the side walls and having terminal portions projecting upwardly -frem the side walls and formed with bills projecting laterally in overhanging relation to the upper bars of the side walls, and supports extending downwardly from the side Walls and having horizontal portions extending longitudinally of the side walls and adapted to rest upon the upper bars of the side walls of another tray of duplicate construction and support the first tray above the second tray with the supports of the first tray gripped by the braces and the bills of the second tray.

5. A tray comprising a bottom bordered by upstanding side walls, braces carried by the side Walls midway the length of the tray and projecting upwardly from the side walls, supports extending downwardly from opposite side edges of the bottom, and struts carried by the side walls at opposite sides thereof than the braces and having upper portions projecting upwardly from the side walls and formed with bills overhanging the side walls cooperating with the upper portions of the braces to grip opposite side surfaces of the supports of another tray and removably secure the second tray over the first tray with the supports of the second tray resting upon the side walls of the first tray.

6. A tray comprising a bottom bordered by upstanding side walls, gripping members carried by the side walls and projecting upwardly therefrom, front and rear gripping members carried by the side walls and projecting upwardly therefrom in forwardly and rearwardly spaced relation to the first gripping members, the front and rear gripping members being disposed at opposite sides of the side walls from the first gripping members, and downwardly extending supports at opposite sides edges of the bottom adapted to rest upon the side walls of another tray of duplicate construction and have opposite side surfaces gripped by the gripping members of the second tray and detachably hold the trays stacked one above another.

7. A tray having side walls, braces for the side walls having upper portions projecting upwardly from the side walls and constituting clip portions spaced from each other longitudinally thereof, alternate clip portions being disposed against opposite sides of each side wall and constituting jaws; and a second tray of similar construction disposed over the first tray in stacked relation theretowith the clips mounted upon inner and outer surfaces of walls of the first tray frictionally gripping inner and outer surfaces of portions of the second tray and releasably holding the second tray in stacked relation to the first tray, the jaws at either side of the first tray being releasable from the said portions of the second tray without disturbing the jaws at its other side of the tray whereby the jaws at the last mentioned side of the first tray remain in gripping engagement with the second tray and form a hinged connection pivotally mounting the second tray for tilting movement to a raised position.

8. A tray having side walls and depending supports along its opposite sides edges, a second tray of similar construction disposed over the first tray in stacked relation thereto with its depending supports resting upon upper edges of the side Walls of the first tray, and braces for the side walls of each tray having upper portions protruding upwardly from the side walls and spaced from each other longitudinally thereof, certain of said braces of each wall being mounted against one surface of the wall and having hooks at their upper ends overhanging the upper edges of the side walls, and a brace between the hooked braces being mounted against the other surfaces of the said Wall, the protruding upper portions of the braces of the first tray releasably gripping the supports of the second tray therebetween and detachably securing the second tray in stacked relation to the first tray, and the hooks of the said protruding upper portions of the braces of one side wall of the first tray having pivotal engagement with the support at the same side of the second tray and mounting the second tray for transverse tilting movement relative to the first tray when the braces at the other side of the first tray are out of gripping engagement with the support of the second tray.

9. A tray having side walls, supports extending downwardly from opposite side edges of the tray, and gripping members extending upwardly from the side walls of the tray and spaced from each other longitudinally thereof, the gripping members of each side wall being alternately disposed at opposite sides of the said wall and forming jaws therebetween; a second tray of similar construction disposed over the first tray and having its supports resting upon side walls of the first tray and thereby supported in stacked relation to the first tray, the supports of the second tray being each frictionally gripped from opposite sides by the jaws of the first tray and the second tray thereby detachably held in its stacked position upon the first tray, the jaws at either side of the first tray being releasable from the support at the corresponding side of the second tray without disturbing the jaws at its other side whereby the second side of the second tray remains in gripped engagement by jaws of the first tray and forms a hinged connection between the trays allowing the second tray to be swung upwardly away from the first tray.

IRA BRUCE YOUNG, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,694 Hall May 18, 1909 1,947,932 Fante Feb. 20, 1934 1,947,933 Fante Feb. 20, 1934 2,059,258 Lofstrand, Jr Nov. 3, 1936 2,235,709 Hearn et 2.1. Mar. 18,1941 2,364,705 Geralds Dec. 12, 1944 

